CAROL KIRKWOOD has issued a shock warning for the UK in her latest BBC weather forecast, as the country braces itself for "wintry showers" and snowfall this week.

Carol Kirkwood told BBC Breakfast viewers that "things are about to turn very cold" across the country, as she issued a shock snow warning. The BBC weather presenter said that temperatures plunged by more than 10C on average across the UK last week. This comes as the Met Office confirmed that temperatures plunged to -4C overnight as freezing conditions grip the country.

Carol Kirkwood told BBC Breakfast viewers that "things are about to turn very cold" across the UK (Image: BBC)

Kirkwood said that a new weather front from the Arctic will drift into Scotland (Image: IG)

Kirkwood said that a new weather front from the Arctic will drift into Scotland as we move into Wednesday, which will bring down temperatures and spark a deep freeze.

She explained: "We start off with a lot of cloud but as this front sinks southwards, taking its increasingly patchy rain with it, more cloud will build.

"Temperatures still range between 8C - 11C. But, later the winds will start to strengthen over the north of Scotland.

"Into Thursday, that weather front continues its movement southwards. Not only will it be windy on Thursday it is going to turn colder from the north as well.

The new weather front will bring down temperatures and spark a deep freeze (Image: BBC)

"The showers we have will increasingly turn wintry. Most of the wintry showers will be in the hills and the mountains but some of the heavier ones could each lower levels but we don't expect it to last."

The latest WXCharts maps also showed that the probability of snow increased on Thursday as Britain prepares for bone-chilling conditions this week.

BBC Weather forecaster Louise Lear earlier admitted that temperatures were “struggling for this time of year”.